Pontiac Just Launched a New Down Payment Assistance Program — Here’s What Detroit-Area Buyers Need to Know

by Lauren Yellen

At Make Detroit Home, we’re always watching for new programs that help Southeast Michigan residents actually get in the door of homeownership. And this week, something big dropped in Pontiac.

The City of Pontiac has officially launched its brand-new Down Payment Assistance Program, created in partnership with National Faith Homebuyers (NFH)—an organization that has been helping Michigan families buy homes for decades.

Whether you're a buyer, investor, or someone dreaming of owning a home in the future, here’s the breakdown.

Why This Program Matters

Pontiac has been rebuilding its housing landscape piece by piece. This new program is another major step toward stabilizing neighborhoods and helping families build long-term, generational wealth.

The program aims to:

Reduce upfront costs for first-time buyers
Assist with down payment and closing expenses
Expand access to homeownership for more families
Support long-term community investment and revitalization

For most buyers, the biggest hurdle isn’t the monthly payment — it’s the cash due on day one. Programs like this help bridge that gap.

How It Works

At the official launch event at City Hall, attendees were able to meet one-on-one with NFH staff to learn about:

Eligibility requirements
Application steps
How much assistance may be available
Which neighborhoods or property types qualify

NFH specializes in guiding families through the entire homebuying process—from financial education and budgeting support to becoming fully mortgage-ready.

For questions, NFH can be reached at: (313) 255-9500

The City of Pontiac has also released a press announcement with the full details:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/DAPPressRelease

As of now, the city is encouraging residents and future applicants to stay tuned for updates on how to apply.

What This Means for Buyers in Detroit + Pontiac

If you’re looking to buy in Pontiac—or you’re open to exploring areas outside Detroit’s core—this is a huge opportunity.

Programs like this can:

Lower your upfront cash needed to close
Free up savings for repairs, emergencies, or moving costs
Help strengthen your offer in a competitive market
Make homeownership reality for first-time buyers

This is exactly the type of resource we spotlight because we believe homeownership should be accessible, not exclusive.

Make Detroit Home’s Take

At MDH, our mission is simple: help real people build real stability through real estate.

Programs like Pontiac’s Down Payment Assistance Program are the tools that make this mission possible. We’ll keep tracking updates, application windows, and new homebuyer resources across Metro Detroit so our clients never miss an opportunity.

If you want help navigating programs like this—or you want to know if you’d qualify—reach out anytime.
We’d love to walk you through your options.